Massachusetts motorists who receive a conviction for driving under the influence are subject to significant legal penalties. A law enforcement officer can make a DUI arrest if you have a measured blood alcohol content above 0.08%. Drivers younger than 21 can receive a DUI with BAC higher than 0.02%.
If you are facing a DUI charge, learn about the state’s consequences for this type of offense.
Minimum DUI penalties
If you have no previous history of DUI, penalties for the initial offense may include:
- License revocation for one year
- Fines between $500 and $5,000
- Up to 2.5 years in jail
After the first DUI, another conviction carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 30 days. For the second conviction, you could also receive license revocation for two years and fines between $600 and $10,000.
Those who commit a third DUI offense will serve at least 150 days and up to five years in jail. A third conviction will also result in an eight-year license revocation and fines of $1,000 to $15,000.
Aggravated offenses
Refusing to take a breath test at the scene of a DUI arrest carries a 180-day driver’s license suspension for the first offense, three years for the second offense and five years for a third offense. These suspensions run consecutively with revocation for a DUI conviction. Drivers younger than 21 will receive a three-year suspension for a first refusal.
If you receive a DUI charge while driving with a passenger younger than age 14, you could also receive a charge of child endangerment. In addition to the DUI penalties, this offense carries:
- License revocation for one year
- Fines between $1,000 and $5,000
- At least 90 days and up to 2.5 years in jail
Many drivers qualify for a probationary program in lieu of jail time. You must be on your first or second DUI offense, undergo substance abuse education and complete a rehabilitation program if necessary, along with the other terms of probation.
